Gulrose Jiwani, PhD
President & CEO

Dr. Gulrose Jiwani is the founder of HPSC Health Policy & Strategies Consultants Inc. a Canadian-based firm whose mission is to play a key role in bridging the gap in health and social disparities globally. An outstanding and highly respected scholar, she is noted for her tireless work with marginalized, at-risk and vulnerable populations. She has held executive leadership positions in academia, government, healthcare settings, and consulting. Dr. Jiwani has a visionary, transformative, inclusive and relational leadership style with demonstrated commitment and track record of engendering academic excellence, inclusivity, belonging, and social justice. She is passionate about education as the key in creating just nations for all to thrive, regardless of their origin or place of birth. A resilient and relentless leader, through radical collaboration with global partners and transformative leadership, Dr. Jiwani helps to build critical capacity and co-develop context-based local sustainable models that incorporate indigenous ways of learning and best practices, to improve quality of life and eliminate poverty in communities. She has been recognized for her contributions to academic excellence, research and outstanding achievement in public service.

A strategic thinker, Dr. Jiwani has extensive experience in health and social policy making, strategic planning, grant writing, system redesign, accreditation, and workforce development. She brings strong expertise in sector-specific assessments, organizational transformations, application of equity frameworks to improve outcomes, performance monitoring, evaluation, and results-based management. She has managed large complex innovative initiatives, leading high performance teams to deliver quality results on budget and within tight timeframes. In addition to providing policy advice to legislators, she has produced government strategy documents to guide planning of comprehensive health services and social supports for populations in the millions. A thought leader and scientist, Dr. Jiwani has informed academic, health service and community programming, and research in Canada, USA and developing countries. A recipient of numerous awards, she gives generously her knowledge and expertise on advisory committees and Boards with the shared purpose of eliminating inequalities. She is a sought after, compelling speaker who inspires hope and empowers delegates to move out of their comfort zone to take action. Her collaborative research, knowledge translation and innovation project funding for high impact education and health service redesign is approx. $22.9M, with over 70 publications and 100 presentations.

Dr. Jiwani has a Doctor of Philosophy (Nursing Science) from University of Washington, Seattle, USA. She has received a Top Scholar Award for Excellence and Innovation, and was named a Magnuson Scholar from the prestigious Warren G. Magnuson Institute for Biomedical Research and Health Professions Training, University of Washington for exemplary scholarship and potential for making significant contributions in research and impact on society. Dr. Jiwani is a Sigma Scholar from the Experienced Academic Leadership Academy, Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing. She has a Master of Nursing from Memorial University of Newfoundland, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (Hons.) from University of Windsor, Canada, and Certificate of Leadership and Inclusion from the Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion. She is fluent in English and has a working knowledge of French, Spanish, Swahili, Hindi, Urdu, Gujarati and Kutchi (Indo-Aryan languages).

Angela Cooper Brathwaite, PhD, RN, FAAN, O.Ont., C.M., Hon DUniv, CHE
Senior Vice President, People and Culture

Dr. Angela Cooper Brathwaite brings extensive national and international experience in leadership, health care systems administration, education, policy advocacy, research and humanitarian work. She has held executive leadership positions as President of the Registered Nurses of Ontario (RNAO), Canada, and in acute care and public health settings. She has practiced as a clinical nurse specialist in mental health settings in Canada, and in consulting globally on diversity, inclusion and cultural competency. She brings nurse-midwifery experience from the Caribbean and the outpost nursing program in Canada. Dr. Cooper Brathwaite is well respected amongst her peers and is known to be a strong advocate for healthy public policy, women’s health, and global health. She has been appointed to the Order of Ontario and is a Member of the Order of Canada. She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing. Dr. Cooper Brathwaite believes racism is a key social determinant of health. Her research focus is on culturally tailored interventions for type 2 diabetes among racialized, marginalized and immigrant populations, and on systemic racism in nursing. Through her leadership, she has collaborated with local, provincial and federal governments in Canada in facilitating changes to public health policy, maternal child-care, and injury prevention.

Dr. Cooper Brathwaite has taught undergraduate and graduate students in maternal-child nursing, mental health, cultural competence, research and global health. She has taught graduate students at Lawrence Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, University of Toronto, and Ontario Tech University. She is an Adjunct Professor and Associate Graduate Faculty Member, Health Sciences, Ontario Tech University. She is member of RNAO’s Health Equity Consortium, and co-chair of RNAO’s Anti-Black Racism Task Force. Dr. Cooper Brathwaite is active in the Global Health Mentorship Program of Canadian Society for International Health, was instrumental in establishing RNAO’s International Nurses Interest Group, and has volunteered in Ethiopia and Trujillo, Peru. She brings extensive grant writing and research experience, has published over 35 peer-reviewed papers, and is a rater for the McMaster Online Rating of Evidence.

Dr. Cooper Brathwaite has a Doctor of Philosophy (Nursing) from University of Toronto, a Master of Nursing from the University of Manitoba, and a Bachelor of Nursing from Memorial University of Newfoundland, Canada. She is a Certified Health Executive (CHE) from Canadian College of Health Leaders (CCHL). She has been profiled as a Nurse to Know in the Canadian Nurse journal. Her academic and service awards include recognition awards from RNAO: Lifetime Achievement Award; Leadership Award in Student Mentorship; Leadership Award in Political Action; Leadership Award in Health Equity; Award of Merit; and Leadership Award in Nursing Administration. She has received the Award of Service Excellence for Achievements in Injury Prevention Program from Regional Municipality of Durham, and Ontario Public Health Association (OPHA) Award of Excellence for leadership in Public Health. Dr. Cooper Brathwaite is the recipient of Distinguished Alumnus Award from Lawrence Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, University of Toronto. She was profiled in Celebrating a Century of Nursing Leadership, University of Toronto, and in “Who’s Who of Canadian Women” in 1996, 1997, 1998, and 1999. She is proficient in English and has a working knowledge of the Spanish language.

Fred Wekesa Laisa, MD, MBBS, DRH
Associate Vice President, Rural Capacity Development and Senior Medical Consultant

Dr. Fred Wekesa Laisa brings extensive experience in rural medicine and surgery, and health services administration. His medical practice spans rural health services and public health, with sub-specialty expertise in HIV/AIDs prevention and management, and reproductive health in developing countries. He has held leadership positions as senior medical officer in charge of hospital facility and clinics. Dr. Laisa is well respected by peers and community Elders and is known for his strong collaboration with governments and stakeholders to build capacity to strengthen rural health systems and access to quality health care. He is a strong advocate for the prevention and management of diseases, and promotes policies and programs that address multi-faceted, cross-cutting issues of public health, and the needs of vulnerable populations and youth in rural settings. He has demonstrated ability in system redesign and developing health programming in rural and remote communities by leveraging scarce resources through local, context-inclusive indigenous lenses. With his extensive experience in clinical mentoring, program development, monitoring and evaluation, Dr. Laisa has successfully facilitated changes to public health and community medicine, including health screening in children, developing an epilepsy clinic, HIV/AIDs clinic, and expanding reproductive health services in Western Kenya. He has received recognition in HIV/AIDS care programmes sponsored by USAID Kenya AIDS Population and Health Integrated Assistance (APHIAplus), and from the Government of Kenya, Ministry of Health for HIV/AIDs and reproductive health service delivery.

Dr. Laisa received his Bachelor in Medicine and Surgery from Moi University, Eldoret, Diploma in Clinical Medicine and Surgery from School of Clinical Medicine, Nakuru, Kenya, and Diploma in Reproductive Health from Kenya Medical Training College, Kisumu. Dr. Laisa mentors fellow clinicians in HIV/AIDs management including having been a clinical mentor in the Provincial Rural Health Training Centre, Western Province of Kenya. He is passionate about evidence-based practices and research in rural medicine, and supervises medical residents, interns and nursing students. Currently he is engaged in private practice. Dr. Laisa generously gives his knowledge and expertise to several community organizations and committees. He is a Board member of a sub-county referral hospital in Trannszoia County. He is proficient in English, Swahili and fluent in Luhya (Kenyan language).

Michèle Tomasino, BAA (Journalism), BEd, MEd
Associate Vice President, Indigenous Liaison and Youth Development

Michèle Tomasino is a visionary educator with a gift for inspiring learners to be the best that they can be at any age. She is a professor of French language and education as well as a French immersion educator in Social and Environmental Sciences. She is Vice-Principal and teacher at Mangilaluk School in Tuktuyaaqtuuq, an Inuvialuit hamlet near Mackenzie River delta in Inuvik Region, Northwest Territories, Canada. She is a strong advocate for community development, gender equality, Indigenous culture, human rights and environmental sustainability. She brings a strong background in grant writing and has successfully acquired funding from federal, provincial, territorial and municipal governments including school districts programs for disenfranchised and gifted youth. She has advised governments on ways to improve education in rural and urban communities and has been instrumental in developing curriculum and implementing unique programs for French Immersion, Inuit and First Nations students including a culturally based alternate school. She has led numerous workshops on technology in the classroom and implemented a cutting edge program on working with elders in the classroom in Northern Canada. Mme. Tomasino shares generously of her time and knowledge contributing to many community projects. As part of her work at Mangilaluk School, she is the liaison between the school and the community for projects dealing with the environment and climate change, and partnering with Tuk TV, a community project that produces films on the effects of climate change in Tuktuyaaqtuuq.

Mme. Tomasino has Bachelor of Applied Arts in Journalism from Ryerson University, Toronto, Bachelor of Education from University of British Columbia, and Master of Education focused on Environmental Indigenous Studies and Program Development from University of Victoria, British Columbia. She has worked as a journalist for the Société Radio Canada/Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (RDI/CBC) across Canada, including the Arctic. She is fluent in French, English and Spanish and has a working understanding of Indigenous protocols in Iroquois, Inuit, Dene, Anishnabe and Pacific Coast communities.

Wesley Too, PhD MPH FHEA (Oxford, UK)
Senior Vice President, Strategy

Dr. Wesley Too is a fellow of Higher Education, Oxford UK and has worked in various institutions of higher education and research. He is a passionate scholar and researcher in infectious and tropical diseases, and brings extensive expertise in public health, disease surveillance, epidemiology and disease control, with specific emphasis on communicable and vector-borne diseases (CVBD) such as HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis (TB). As the founding Dean School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Kabarak University, Kenya and Associate Professor at Aga Khan University, Nairobi, Dr. Too has demonstrated ability in strategic planning, leading in complex environments, and developing health programming to move organizational goals forward. He promotes policies and programs that address multi-faceted, cross-cutting issues of public health, and the needs of vulnerable populations. He is well respected amongst his peers and is known to be a strong advocate for the prevention and management of diseases. Dr. Too develops innovative solutions, leveraging scarce resources, integrated approaches to capacity building, and through effective collaborations strengthens academic and clinical systems. He has advanced quantitative and qualitative research expertise, with focused expertise in action research and public health epidemiological methods. As Visiting Professor, Global Health and Tropical Medicine, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical (IHMT), Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Portugal under the framework of the European Programme Erasmus+, Dr. Too has been part of a research team that conducts GIS and epidemiological modelling, tracking mobility genomic characteristics of populations around global pathogens – patterning and building data bases with mobility/migrant studies focusing on transmission, spread and geospatial distribution of contagious or infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS. He has conducted national and international workshops and widely published in peer-reviewed journals. He is currently based in Geneva, Switzerland.

Dr. Too holds a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD in Health Sciences) from the University of Nottingham, UK, a Master of Public Health from Moi University, Eldoret, Kenya, and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (Hons.) from the University of Eastern Africa, Baraton. He generously gives his knowledge and expertise in service to the community. He has received numerous academic and research awards including The Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund (DPWMF-IAHPC Award) at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, Dorothy Hodgkins PhD Scholarships (DHPA Award), and the MERGING VOICES Project Award from Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Portugal. He is proficient in English, Swahili and fluent in Kalenjin (Kenyan language).